Protecting IAM Interest Through
Legislative Vigilance
Protecting IAM interest through legislative vigilance,
IAM legislative representatives work constantly to insure
that the interests of union members--and all working
people--are kept in the forefront of all deliberations in
the U.S. Congress and Canadian Parliament. Legislative
representatives maintain a constant vigilance to assure
gains union members work so hard to achieve at the
bargaining table are not lost through the stroke of a pen to
sign some ill-conceived legislation into law.
Laws passed in Washington and Ottawa affect a worker's
right to join a union of his or her choice and negotiate a
decent contract. They also determine the kind of protection
union members have the right to expect against on-the job
accidents, sickness, unemployment, and old age.
Actions taken in Congress and Parliament also affect our
efforts to feed, clothe, shelter, and educate our families.
The politicians workers elect have the power to decide our
tax bill, whether the corner station has gasoline, whether
we will be protected against fraud and deception in the
market place, and whether our air is fit to breathe and our
water fit to drink.
Thousands of lobbyists work round the clock to get
special treatment for Big Business, bankers, oil producers
and other wealthy interests.
When they get their way, working people pay.
IAM legislative representatives constantly serve as the
people's lobby.
IAM legislative representatives in Washington and Ottawa
help keep local IAM legislative committees informed on how
their legislators are voting and encourage members to
participate in the political process.
IAM members and officers often testify before
Congressional and Parliamental committees, and locals send
representatives to Washington for annual briefings.
The Machinists Non-Partisan Political League (MNPL) and
the Canadian Machinists Political League (CMPL), supported
by voluntary contributions, work to help elect labor's
friends to national, state, and provincial offices.
The most important job of the IAM Legislative Department,
MNPL, and the CMPL, is to encourage IAM locals and districts
to set up voter registration programs. The vote is the most
powerful political tool workers posses.
I A M legislative goals:
- Full employment by expanding the economy, lowering
interest rates.
- Foreign trade policies that discourage U.S.
manufacturers from moving American plants and technology
overseas and establishment of international labor
standards; meaningful compensation for workers displaced
by plant closings.
- Legislation to protect against plant closings.
- Effective enforcement of Occupational Safety and
Health Act and standards for workers compensation.
- Tax reform to close loopholes and increase
individual exemptions.
- Equal opportunities for all.
- Improvements in Social Security coverage.
- Uniform standards for unemployment compensation.
- Federal standards for workers' compensation.
- National Health Insurance.
- Labor Law Reform.
- Consumer Protection Agency.
- Strict enforcement of regulations for cleaner
environment.
- Federal monitoring and control of the nation's
energy reserves.
- Federal funding for all types of energy research and
development.
- Support divestiture of monopolistic energy
corporations, particularly those with holdings in
multiple sources such as oil, coal, atomic, and solar
energy.
Contribute NOW!
Who's fighting to protect your job,
pension, health insurance and social security?
Who's wrestling with the current administration
over CAFTA, Social Security and JOBS?
Who's protecting your health and safety, your
right to organize, your job security?
Who's taking on the multi-national corporations'
schemes to demean the American Dream, to weaken
North America's might? Who's battling Corporate
America's 34,000 high-priced lobbyists day in
and day out?
MNPL is. The Machinists Nonpartian Political
League is IAM's heavyweight champion when it
comes to politics and legislation. But these
fights are expensive. Sadly, money buys access
in the halls of power. And politicians listen
more closely when contributors come calling. So,
MNPL needs your contribution to wage these
fights. Click
here to make an online contribution today.
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